UAE Sign Deal on Subsea Power Transmission Project

A major $1 billion tripartite undersea interconnection power transmission project involving three countries – Italy, Albania and the UAE – across the Adriatic Sea was announced in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Italian grid operator Terna, the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (Taqa) and the Albanian government will oversee the implementation of the project.

Announcing the signing of the agreement at the ongoing World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Italian President Georgia Meloni said that she was proud of a deal with Albania and the UAE for the production and transportation of renewable energy from Albania to Italy.

“I am personally proud of this initiative, which tangibly shows how new forms of cooperation can also be built between partners who can appear distant, at least geographically,” she said about the deal which was signed by the UAE President H H Mohammed bin Zayed and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Meloni described the deal as an ambitious project between the Adriatic’s two coasts and a new energy interconnection to produce green energy in Albania and export part of it to Italy, thanks to a subsea cable in the Adriatic, a project that involves the three governments, as well as their private sectors and network operators.

“I am sure that developing interconnections can be the key to a new energy diplomacy to multiply opportunities of cooperation amongst us, generating benefits shared by all. With this approach, Italy wants to become a strategic hub for energy flows between Europe and Italy,” she added.

Triple Ownership

Edi Rama told reporters on the side lines of the Summit about the creation of the infrastructure for the production and transport of renewable energy from Albania to Italy which will be operational in about three years. The project reinforces the commitment to renewable energy and economic interconnectivity in the region.

“The alliance will have triple ownership, and on the other hand will be supported by significant joint investments in increasing Albania’s production capacities. This also serves our ambition to become import-independent, but also gives us a role soon as an exporter to the EU,” RaMa said.

“Albania is today the country with the highest capacity of household or business self-producers of solar energy in the region. Solar energy has gone from zero percent to nearly 10% of our domestic energy production,” he added.

According to media reports, the planned undersea power line will connect Vlorë in Albania with Bari in Italy and aims to link the energy systems of Albania’s and Italy, giving Albanian producers direct access to the Italian market.

It may be recalled that the idea of an undersea connection was floated 45 years ago and initial studies explored connecting Albania’s 220 KV system with Italy’s. Although revisited several times, it has now reached a new stage of commitment.

Albania currently has energy transmission lines with Greece, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. A direct line to Italy would open access to one of Europe’s biggest energy markets, offering significant opportunities for Albanian producers.